AMPHAR

I think Trey Smith is really the prize player in FA over Higgins. I'm not going to be mad IF they would sign Higgins to a long term deal but will certainly be interested in the structure of it. I'd absolutely go for Trey Smith at the highest paid for 4/5 years over Higgins but the likely hood of them paying a guard that much is unlikely. There's several stop-gap or hole fillers players but most of them scream two year deal. Bryon Murphy and Ward at CB are prime examples. No way on earth would I want top CB money for either of those two and locked in for multiple years. Sure they are bona fide starters but Murphy was ranked in the 30s his last free agency voyage and signed a cheap deal. What's changed? Ward was ranked 89th best FA back in 2022. Now top 10? You got to be fucking kidding me. I hope Chiefs sign him so I can watch Chase torch his ass repeatedly. I don't know if I'd want Ward at the 4th CB on our team right now and our secondary got roasted repeatedly. Just searching through these FA rankings reminds you that in the month of March Bengals fans and NFL fans in general are going to be acting like fools over 2nd tier at best players. Yes its possible to get the Hendrickson. Trey got a decent deal but a lot of people questioned it at the time even though he was the 4th best FA that year.

The problem with this Free Agent class that the top 15 rankings are a joke. This FA class is so thin to flat out not impressive. So there will be players you would like to catch on the way up that are going to be way overvalued even more so than a typical FA year. Josh Sweat would be a good get at mid contract. You ready to make him among the highest paid? I dunno. Case in point below are some of the names sprinkled in the top 15 FA rankings: 1. Tee Higgins- Hasn't had 1,000 yards in two season. Hasn't played over 60% of snaps in two seasons. Has never played more than 80% snaps in his entire career. Completely overrated at $30m or whatever a year. He's a fan favorite but I'd really like to see that contract structure IF they ever get an extension done. But on the free market he'd be some franchises key building block. Not sure if that would happen but whatever Bengal fans and Joe loves him. 2. Trey Smith - that's solid starter. Comfortable having him as a top 5 paid guard? Maybe. 3. Chris Godwin - in the top 10? Laughable at $25m+ he's had two major surgeries in the past 3 years. Torn ACL and Dislocated ankle. This is guy that should be ranked were DJ Reader was last year in the 40s and be looking at a prove it deal. 4. Ronnie Stanley - OT Ravens - Top 10? I dunno about that. Major injury red flags. This is guy that should be ranked around that Panthers tackle a few years ago that had the knee surgeries and could only get 1 year deals. 5. Zac Baun - This is my favorite top 10 Free Agent. WTF? I actually would love him on a cheap deal. However, he wasn't on any top 100 FA list last year I could find. Had to settle last year for 1 year $4m deal. Rags to Riches, I guess. 6. Bolton Chiefs - solid player. Top 10? 7. Ward - CB - He's in the top 10? I'd have a hard time thinking CB spot was solid if you have him marked down as a starter. Maybe a solid depth piece. 8. Byron Murphy CB - Top 10? Laughable. He was a FA two years ago ranked in the 30s. Had to settle for a low 2 year deal with Vikings. Starting CB. Had real trouble beating out Dre Kirkpatrick back in the day. But Hey, a defensive conerstone! 9. Josh Sweat - I would love to have as potential up and comer with a contract that matched that. Think Carl Lawson/Hendrickson value 1st FA contract. I don't know if I'd make him my cornerstone on a defense and equal cap hit. There's a couple guys you'd like to have as a stop gap starter. But the most likely out come is that you are cycling through 2nd tier players that for some reason can't land a 4/5 year deal with the team that drafted them. When guys like Ward, Baun and Murphy on their regularly scheduled Free Agent tour are in a top 10 the quality is way down.

If Al wants more pressure generated from his LBs then he's going to need to add new faces. It felt like when Wilson/Pratt recorded a sack it was out of a spy or Green Dog (add on) blitz situation. It seemed very rare LBs were the designated blitz that mostly came off the Corner Spot under Lou. It just was a very conservative scheme and it rarely changed even when an opposing offense demonstrated they figured out his zones.

Tee getting tagged according Rapien. Non exclusive. Speculates further long term deal still on the table, I guess. I think Rapien broke the news last year as well. Of course Rapien floated out there Tee could get $30m-$35m a year. I wonder where he gets all this stuff from? In other Tee news - Trevor L would love to have him. I would personally love for them to have him as well for pick No. 41. Or picks 72 and 94. Of course anything greater would be gravy. Tee playing at $26m on the Bengals cap isn't ideal. Not horrendous but not ideal.

The fact he fired his agent and hired Chase's agent. Then that agent is rumored to have had contract extension talks last week. Tells me the Bengals didn't telegraph this for two years they were moving on. Tells me they want to try to work something out IF they can get the money right for both parties. Its about his value that's variable factor. Not the Bengals deciding to move on and that's that. They wouldn't be talking at all.

The Bengals being a winning franchise refutes the claim they are Archaic. If you want to argue with the Scoreboard when determining football effectiveness. Have at it. Tee Higgins firing his agent. Hiring Chase's agent. Then that agent rumored to be in talks with the Bengals. Clearly refutes Tee leaving in Free Agency was the Bengals plan. Better arguments have been made. You've read them You still take issue with them. Why?

Right. Tee just happend to fire his agent. Tee just happened to hire Chase's agent. Then by some miracle of GOD this agent is rumored to be in talks with the Bengals. But according to you the Bengals plan all along was to have him walk and this was set in stone for 2 years. WTF?

Being a winning franchise doesn't support the front office being Archaic, right? Tee Higgins only being available for 60% of snaps, firing his agent, and the rumors of current contract talks certainly disputes that this was their plan for two years, right? Ignore facts keep bitterness of the 90s handy is a much better approach.

Aside from him playing only 60% of snaps for 4 years. Firing his agent and ignoring the recent rumors of contract talks. Yes, this was telegraphed for two years, lol. Ignore everything its just the way they roll, lol.

Teams can sign Tee to a contract that's says $35 per year all day long. Good for Tee. Tag him and then trade him. Higgins would be a fool to pass that up if its reality. The Bengals would be committing roster malpractice to match. They have the medicals etc. He's played 60% of snaps the last 4 seasons and its been declining. The last time he played 70%+ was 2020. Keep in mind the majority of reports from last year's TC said it was his best camp/off season. His body failed him anyway. A fair deal for Higgins is what Joe said. Do the Eagles model. That's Devonta Smith deal. Which would pay him $33m over 2 years, $48m over 3, and $69 over 4 and simultaneously giving the Bengals an out after year 2. Higgins would be a fool to accept a fair deal for fantasy free agency fest. Thus it would be wise for the Bengals to tag AND fans would be wise to ignore any chicken little bullshit about speculation of the locker room falling apart. However, Rapien speculation and all the others is mostly agent driven hyping up the client right before FA. Good for Tee. I'd really wouldn't want to see the Bengals lock themselves into Tee past 2027.

Tee Higgins has played less than 55% of the offensive snaps the past 2 years. He's only played 60% of offensive snaps the past 4 years. Its likely Tee is missing more than half the snaps playing on the tag, long term deal, or with another team.

From SI and James Rapien. Personally this sounds like James doing a solid for the agent and Higgins. If a team wants to give Tee $30m+ per year more power to them.

Part 2 Burrow says follow the Eagles. That means Chase needs to take his top of the market deal that's going to be somewhere around 5 years and $160-170m and do what AJ Brown accepted which puts 52% of the deal in years 3,4,5, and 6 while representing cap flexibility after year 2. Chase is unlikely to sign that structure because Justin Jefferson gets 60% of his $159m total value in Years 1,2, and 3 and the Vikings get cap flexibility going into year 4. JJ's structure outlay aligns close to his yearly average. CeeDee Lamb also receives 60% of his $154m deal in years 1,2, and 3. The Cowboys also get cap flexibility going into year 4.

Burrow says follow the Eagles. That means Tee needs to sign a 5 year $90m+ deal. Like Devonta Smith. But push 50% of the value to years 4 and 5 and simultaneously have the Bengals minimal cap hit IF they choose to cut after year 3. 100% for that. Effectively makes Tee a $16-$18m a year player. IF Tee has to play on the tag. He would earn $48m over 2024/2025. That's significantly more than Smith earned. More than Pittman and $3m less than AJ. Fans can believe and lick up whatever bullshit they want. There would be no excuse for a bad season because of Tee playing on a tag.

True. But I can also guarantee some free agent signing from 2 years ago or sooner will also be cut out from underneath that contract without batting that same eye. I really don't see the value in locking yourself into Tee Higgins in 3/4 year deal at $26m given his lack of production due to his availability. If the Bengals want to do that, fine. He's a fan and QB favorite so could be worse. I believe Tee if he wants to stay with the Bengals will probably have to choose to do what Burrow and presumably Chase won't do and is push money back in the contract and shoulder more risk. Which oddly enough is what the franchise tag forces the player to do. Him playing on the tag compensates equal or more than market he just doesn't get the multi guarantee but he wouldn't get that IF he does what Joe suggests.

Him playing on the tag again gives him more than Pittman and Devonta Smith in the same time period. Again, who gives a shit? You? Fine.

I don't care what tagging Tee Higgins might do to it. Professional players and coaches can't have an adequate lockeroom culture IF the No. 2 WR only makes $48m over two years? People buy into this bullshit? Dehner doesn't have the balls to call this out? WTF? The only legit reason not to tag Tee would be if they were concerned he'd sign it right away and refuse to work with any team on a trade. That would lock the Bengals into $26m cap/cash and Tee simply isn't worth that, IMO. I say Tag at the last minute. If that happens then start taking offers.

I think they should Tag Tee. Then trade. I could give two shits about culture damage. You can get some holes filled with $26m in cap or cash. What is Tee going to do if he's tagged? Not play in the opener or 2nd game? Not catch a 1,000 yards? Pull himself from games? Secondly Joe can pour fuel all he wants. Fans can lick it up all they want. The fact remains the Eagles have gotten their key players (Hurts, AJ, and Smith) to all back load money which Joe oddly suggests. So when is Joe deferring his 2025 salary?

OK Joe. You first. Every Eagles offensive piece that's resigned has pushed money to the back end of the contract putting it at risk. Joe the Cap guru, lol. Get the fuck out of here. Talk to Chase and tell him why he should push off his money when he didn't. Joe Burrow will got $111m in the first two years vs. Hurts at $64m - $47m difference. That gap only declines $7m through 2025. AJ Brown represents cap savings to the Eagles after 2025. Putting $55m that is due after 2025 at risk. That's over 50% of the extension. Justin Jefferson of his $159m total deal he gets 60% in the first 3 years. I'm guessing Chase isn't pushing off 50% of his deal like AJ Brown. If you want to be like the Eagles then your teammates have to do what they ALL did.

Pratt is a decent LB. Has a nose for the football. His tackling fell short. His number of tackles is reflective that the Bengals D couldn't get off the field they were 6th worse in the league allowing 1088 plays. When an offense is going to snap the ball that many times there's going to be opportunity for defensive stats. But overall the back 7 in coverage the past 2 years has been bad and think that's the shortfall of Pratt playing 95% of snaps. A lot of people said he was a cut candidate, I guess he is. I'd imagine he's trying to preserve some of the near $6m he was targeted to make with a trade. Get cut and maybe its something less but he'll catch on somewhere and be a two down LB.

Good luck to Pratt made a lot of great plays. See if Lou and Colts will throw you a 5th rounder or something.

Yeah probably a lot of people will like him. Thus iffy at 17 unless there's a run on several things.

The NFL.com 3 rounder Rueter mock has big change in philosophy. Bengals go offense all 3 rounds. 1. Booker - Guard. Not against the player or the need. I don't like Bengals taking IOL in the top 50 because history shows IF they nail the pick they don't want to pay the market rate to extend IOL. Stein and Z. Of course Price was one of worst draft picks of all time taking him in favor over Lamar Jackson when all you had was Dalton. 2. Tez Johnson WR - don't like the thought of slot WR. Chase takes a decent amount of snaps in slot. I think If the bengals take WR its a boundary WR is what they'll need. A guy with Burton type skills but you know better a paying rent and not choking girlfriends. 3. Harold Fannin Jr. - TE the draft pundits are all over the place on this guy. Very productive college TE out of Bowling Green. Like the pick, could be a sleeper.

Bengals have cap now. I'm guessing its cash paid is the bigger issue. All the Eagles comparison leave out the most critical factor each of their big guns shoulder more risk there is a significant difference in the Average year and when cash is paid. The Eagles have ways to exit with minimal cap impact in most of those deals because the players accepted option bonuses. Burrow isn't structured that way the cash he actually gets is significantly more than Hurts. I'm guessing that's what Chase balked at in the summer. So if those two aren't budging on cash to get everyone signed at some point some will have to OR they have to go even younger at other spots on the roster. You never know until deals are inked and posted. Be a tough time filling out a roster if everyone takes the Burrow route and I'm assuming Chase will go the Jefferson route.

What I find perplexing is the mocking of Shemar Stewart in the first round. Owner of 1.5 sacks. His profile reminds me of what they are going through now with Myles Murphy. What I find depressing is when you look at Myles Murphy draft profile on NFL.com it has Zierlien's top available highlighted at the time Myles was putting on his cap. One edge listed has 13.5 career sacks. The other edge listed just had a 8 sack year.